Scraper



1June 3,1941.

L. BERNER scRAPER Filed may 23. 1939 2 Sheets-Shea?l 1 L. BERNER- June3, 1941*.

SCRA'PER Filed May 23, 1939 2` Sheets--Sheml 2 @Y HAR A5 K/ECH FO affPatented June `3, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Leo Berner,Huntington Park, Calif. Application May 23, 1939, sex-iai No. 275,173

17 Claims.

Myinvention relates to earth-moving apparatus with special reference toscrapers and is directed speciically to an improved vconstruction for aheavy duty scraper of large capacity; f

The earth-moving cycle of ascraper lcomprises the following operations:digging or the scraping operation proper; the loading of the excavatedearth into the bowl of the scraper; the transportation of the loadedearth in the scraper to the dumping area; and unloading the earth atthev dumping area, usually the earth being spread to a desirablethickness as it is deposited. The amount of earth that will be moved ina given lperiod of time by a given amount of available power will varywith the effectiveness with which that power is utilized in the diggingoperation and with Athe time ratio of the digging operation to the wholeearth-moving cycle. The

most economical scraper, then, would be one with a highly effectivedigging means and a relatively large storage capacity to reduce thenumber of trips necessary for moving a given yardage of earth.

In practice, certain diiculties have defeated attempts to attain largecapacity in Scrapers, increasedcapacity along conventional lines unyoperation, per se.

avoidably involving prohibitive penalties in reduced eiciency andincreased cost.`

One of the most serious problems is the fact that increasing the storagecapacity of a conventional scraper results in an inordinate consump tionof power for loading theearth into the scraper bowl, the power soconsumed being a direct deduction from the power available for thedigging operation proper. This problem arises from the fact that, in theusual scraper construction, the earth is shifted from the scraper bladeto storage in an ineiiicient manner, the earth movement into the bowlbeing accomplished solely by `displacement resulting from earth crowdinginto the scraper upward from the scraper blade. All

of the loading force is applied at the scraper blade and is rapidlydissipated. Internal friction of the loaded earth in the crowding actionconsumes energy, and packing of the earth against the side walls of thescraper with considerable pressure causes excessive resistance to theloading flow of the earth. This dissipation of power is unavoidable ifmere crowding ,of the earth is relied upon for loading the conveyor andincreases at an accelerated rate with increase of bowl capacity. In onlya moderate sized scraper, the power consumed in forcing the earth intothe scraper bowl for transportation may exceed by aV large margin thepower consumed in the digging Since the loading operation .proceedssimultaneously with the digging operation, a conventional scraper ofexceptionally large capacity will often require a pusher tractor inaddition to the usual pulling tractor. The employment of two tractors insuch manner is not only expensive but also involves excessive stresseson the scraper that can be met only by a heav and cumbersome scraperconstruction.

It may be further pointed out that relying on the sheer crowding of theearth at the blade for conveying the earth into the tractor bowl is notconducive to ecient distributionof the load nor to proper utilization ofthe available storage volume. Where crowding is depended upon to loadthe tractor, the earth must be considered as, in effect, a streamflowing from the cutting edge of the scraper blade into the bowl and nodesign based on the sole consideration of facilitating ,such flow willresult in proper loading .of the bowl.

The general object of my invention is to provide various improvements ina scraper construction to obvlate the abovedidiculties and to solve theabove problems in the design of a large capacity scraper. Broadly, it ismy purpose to provide a large capacity scraper that may be operatedeffectivelywithout excessive power requirements. I propose to providealarge capacity scraper in which the power requirements for excavationcompare with the power requirements of conventional Scrapers .ofrelatively small capacity. Conversely stated, my broad Objectis toexcavate with maximum utilization of a given available power and at thesame time to provide such carrying capacity on the part of the` scraperthat the ratio of the digging operation to the earthmoving cycle as awhole will be relatively high.

My invention is characterized by the conception that these broad objectsmay be attained by concentrating lsubstantially all of the availablepower on each operation of the earth-moving cycle in turn. Byconcentrating the available power alternately on digging and loading, Iavoid the peak power loads that are inevitable when digging and loadingare performed simultaneously. My invention is further characterized bythe unique conception of, in effect, dividing the bowl intoa receivingcompartment and a storage compartment, my thought being that the earthmay be conveyed into the receiving compartment by the usual crowdingaction with relatively little consumption of the available power if thereceiving compartment is relatively small and is designed to favorlowingmovement blade, per se.

of the earth. A new earth-moving cycle is con` tem-plated in which theearly part of the cycle consists of :alternately digging with forwardmovement of the scraper and, with the scraper stationary, loading ortransferring earth from the receiving compartment to the storage comtheconstruction o-f the contemplated receiving compartment of the scraperbowl. I propose to provide for transferring earth from the receivingcompartment to the storage -compartment in an effective mann-er withminimum power and to deliver the earth to the storage compartment in amanner to utilize the f-ull capacity of the storage compartment and tofavor the subsequent dumping operation. A feature of the preferred formof my invention is that the side Walls of the receiving compartment arefixed and that the scraper blade serves as the floor of the receivingcompartment and is movable to lift the contents of the receivingcompartment bodily into the storage compartment.

Another object in mind relates to the scraper In the preferred form ofmy invention, I propose, as above-stated, to have the blade perform thefunction of lifting earth bodily into the storage compartment of thescraper bowl. I propose to provide a blade design eifective for both ofthe two purposes served by the blade and to mount the blade in a. mannerthat will permit the required periodical loading movement and yetprovide for the required vblade 'rigidity during the digging operation.In this aspect, my invention is characterized by a novel togglearrangement to achieve the required characteristics of blade operation,and is further characterized by the conception of a blade .mounted onarms to function about a pivotal axis that is isolated from the earthbeing handled and, therefore, cannot be clogged or jammed by the earth.

In a scraper constructed to operate in the manner described above andhaving such a dualfunction scraper blade, it is desirable to insure thatearth or rock will not cause the blade to jam to interrupt its. upwardmovement toward during initiation of the loading operation, and

the chocker member, and vto provide for automatic elevation of thechocker member to clear the ground when the scraper is ready fortransportation of the excavated earth to the dumping area.

With reference to the unloading operation in the earth-moving cycleperformed by the scraper, my object is torelease the materialsubstantially directly under the center of gravity of the storage bodyto favor rapidity of dumping, and it is my further object to provide forcarrying out the unloading operation with minimum power and ina mannervto result in spreading the earth efficiently in a layer of adjustabledepth.- A feature of the preferred form of my invention is theconception of a floor member for the storage compartment that isrotatively mounted to rock to selected dumping positions for spreadingthe earth to selected depths, the rocking operation being such as toconsume relatively little power.

A further broad object of my invention is to provide a scraper ofrelatively little weight, simthe bowl and to insure that no substantialquan- -tity of earth will spill forward over the cutting edge of theupwardly-swinging blade to block the return downward movement oftheblade. It is further desirable, for the sake of simplicity in the bladedesign and blade actuating mechanism, that the blade move in a simplepath of reciprocation. Further objects of my invention lrelate to theattainment of these particular ends, and a feature of my invention isthat such objects are accomplished by providing what I choose to call achocker member or chocker box to cooperate with a pivotally-mountedscraper blade. The chocker member serves to deflect material into thereceiving compartment of the scraper ple operation and inexpensiveconstruction. This broad object is readily attained under the principlesof my invention since only the scraper blade, the movable iioor memberof the storage compartment and the chocker member are movable, theremaining elements of the scraper comprising e. rigid unitary structureconnected directly to the supporting wheels.

Other objects, features, and advantages of my invention .will beapparent from my more detailed description to follow, taken with the accompanying drawings. y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the scraper in digging disposition;

vFig. 2 is a plan view of the scraper;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, taken along the broken line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section on a somewhat enlarged scale, takenalong theline 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section, taken along the line 5-5 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 6 isv a diagrammatic view on a reduced scale showing the scraper inthe course of the meral I0 in the drawings, is an elongated receptaclefabricated from suitable metal plates and include side walls Il, a frontend wall I2, and-a rear end wall I3, the front and rear end walls beingarcuate, as shown,'for reasons that will be 'made apparent later.

supports and reinforces the bowl I0 is prefer- The frame structure thatably of hollow construction fabricated from steel member I surroundingthebowl near the top, a lower similar rectangular frame member I 6, anda pair of inclined frame members Hinterconnectingthe two rectangles atthe rear corners of the bowl. A triangular assemblage of frame members,generallydesignated by the numeral I8, rigidly connected to the forwardend of the bowl ID supports the bowl from la suitable pivotal connectionwith a forward axle assembly generally designated I9, the axle assemblybeing supported by forward wheels 20 and being provided with the usualdraft tongue or draw-bar 2 I. At the rear end of the bowl, thesupporting structure includes an assemblage of frame members, generallydesignated 23, that is connected to an axle 24 carrying rear wheels 25.Preferably, the side plates I I of the bowl extend somewhat above thelevel of the frame structure and are` reinforced by gusset plates 26rising from the rectangular frame member l5. It will be noted that thedescribed frame-and-bowl construction is rigidjthroughout. Thiseiicient, rugged, and yet relatively light construction is permissiblebecause my invention does not require movement up and downof the bowlproper relative to the supporting wheels.

The preferred form of my invention includes a `transverse barrier,generally designated 29,

spanning the interior of the bowl I0, the barrier in effect dividing thebowl into a receiving compartment 3D and a storage compartment 3|.

The barrier 29 maytake various forms in various practices of myinvention but in the specific form under consideration here is ,a hollowmember having an arcuate forward wall 32, an inclined rearward wall 33,a bottom Wall 34, and side walls 35, the side walls, as best shown inFig. 4, being spaced from and parallel with the corresponding side wallsII of the bowl IU. The barrier 29 may be supported from the side wallsII of the bowl I0 by an angle-iron 3l that extends across the bowlthrough the interior of the barrier near the lower rear edge thereof andby a second cross member, such asa bar 38.

My invention includes a blade assembly, generally designated 40, theessential parts of which are a scraper blade 4| and two support arms 42that are rotatably mounted on corresponding pivot pins 43. The pivotpins43 are at each side of the barrier 29 and are on an axis concentricto both the curvature of the forward end plate I 2 of the bowl I9 andthe curvature of the forward wall 32 of the barrier 29. The scraperblade 4l is so dimensioned and positioned that, asithe blade is swungupward, the forward or cutting edge of the blade follows the bowl wallI2 and the rearward edge of the blade follows the v barrier Wall 32. Itis apparent that, by virtue 0f such a construction, upward movement ofthe blade 4I may be relied upon to lift the whole content of thereceiving compartment bodily up- Ward over the barrier 29 into thestorage compartment 3 l.

In the blade construction shown in the drawings, which is to be taken assuggestive only, the scraper-blade 4I is 'disposed at an angle relativeto the arms 42 and the arms, which are of hollow construction and haveoverhanging upper walls 44, are continuous with correspondingreinforcement members 45 along each side of the blade,A

the reinforcement members tapering toward the leading edge of the blade.Side plates 46 that extend upward from each longitudinal edge of theblade 4I and are reinforced by bars 4'I and 4B lgive the bladeassemblyv/the character of a struction laving av spaced lower plate 49and is provided with a replaceable blade element 50 removably securedthereto by suitable bolts* 5I. It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 3 thatthe scraper blade 4I, in its cutting or excavating disposition,constitutes in eiect the bottom wall of thev receiving compartment 30.The blade may be said, then, to have three functions inasmuch as itserves as a digging member, 'forms a wall of the receiving compartmentof the scraper bowl, andis movable to transfer the content of thereceiving compartment into the storage compartment. By virtue of theoverhanging walls 44, each of the arms 42` of the blade in eiect spansthe corresponding space between the side lwall II ofthe bowl and theside wall 35 of the barrier 29, thereby forming a bottom for that spaceand also reducing the'likelihood Vof. earth or rock causing the arm tobe jammed.

Various suitable mechanisms may be designed to actuate and control thescraper-blade 4I for the performance of the various functions mentionedabove. In the preferred form of my invention, by way of example, Iemploy a toggle v v-concentric to the axis about which the arms rotate.On the far side of the scraper, as viewed in Fig. 3, the upper end ofthe toggle link 53 is pivotally connected to the lower end of a togglearm 56 that swings on a pivot post 5'I mounted inside the frame memberI5, the bottom of the frame member having a` slot (not shown)dimensioned to'clear the toggle 'arm at all positions. On the near sideof the scraper bowl, as the bowl is vviewed in Fig. 1, the other of thetwo toggle links 53 is connected to a toggle arm 58 that is similar tothe toggle arm 56, the toggle arm being in like manner mounted on apivot post 59 in the frame member. I5. The toggle arm 58, however, islonger than the rst toggle arm 56 in that it has an end portion 60extending above the frame member I5, the frame member having a lowerslot 6I and an upper slot 62 to clear the toggle arm at all positions.`

On each side of the scraper bowl is a hydraulic jack 64 having its rearend pivotally anchored to and controlled through a pair of pipes 68 andflexible connecting conduits 69. It may be noted in Fig. l that, inthenormal digging disposition of the scraper blade 4l, the piston rod 66of each of the hydraulic jacks is extended to its furthermost forwardposition, at which position theangle between the toggle link and togglearm approaches a angle with a correspondingly highly favorable leverageratio against the pivot post 54 on the scraper arm 42, It is apparentthat onlya moderate thrust by the piston rod against the toggle linkageis required to hold the scraper blade at its lowermost position in arigid manner that precludes chattering. If thehy draulic jacks yl/ enthe opposite sides of the scraper are actuated to retract the pistonrods ,66, the toggle links 53 are placed in tension to draw the scraperblade 4I upward and back to the extreme blade position indicated in Fig.1 by a dashed line 10. Features of the described operating mechanismare, first, the effective locking of the scraper blade in diggingdisposition; second, the relatively extensive blade movementaccomplished with only moderate movement of the piston rods; and, third,the relatively small range of oscillation on the part of the hydraulicjacks in the course of blade movement, this latter feature beingimportant as minimizing the likelihood of objects adjacent the scraperinterfering with the operation of the -hydraulic jacks.

Since material may spill out of the bowl through the arcuate slots 55 inthe side walls Il, especially if the material is dry Vsandy soil, I addto the preferred form of my invention suitable closure means, such as anarcuate series of overlapping plates 12. Each of the plates is pivotallymounted ona bolt I3 and is pressed downward edgewise by a leaf-spring'I4 against a stop pin 15, at which position the plate covers a portionof the slot. The various plates have forward and rearward edges inclinedacross the slot in the path of the pivot post 54'so that the blades aresuccessively deflected by a cam action whenever the pivot post 54traverses the slot in the course of scraper blade movement.

' In the preferred practice of my invention, it is contemplated that,periodically, the forward movement of the scraper will be interruptedfor a loading operation, at which time the available power will bedirected to the actuation of` two hydraulic jacks 64 to swing thescraper blade 4I upward and backward for transference of material fromthe receiving compartment 30 to the storage compartment 3|. It isdesirable at such time that some means be provided to discourage thetendency of the loosened earth to spill forward over the leading edge ofthe scraper blade as the scraper blade is moving upward and approaches aposition to cut off th'e lower end of the receiving compartment 38. lForsuch purpose, I may provide what I call a chocker member, that isgenerally designated I'I in the drawings.- The chocker member ishingedly mounted and may be regarded as a yielding or flexible extensionof the front bowl wall I2. AIn the preferred form of my invention, thechocker member TI is of hollow character, being in the form of a tray orbox, and may, therefore, aptly be termed a chocker box. By virtue ofthis construction, the chocker member maybe loaded with ballast ofselected weight vto provide a. de-

sired degree of inherent resistance to deflection.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the chocker box 11 has a rearwall 'I8 that is normally in approximate alignment with the bowl wall I2and has a lower wall 19 that is arcuate in general configuration, thewall curving upward toward the front to encouragethe chocker box to rideover any rocks, earth ridges, or other relatively lowobstacles on theground. The chocker box swings on a suitable pintle rod 80 and thelowermost rotativel position of the chocker box is `determined by a pairof adjustable chains 8l anchored to' a member` of the overhanging frameassemblage I8.

In the normal excavating disposition'of the scraper'shown in Figs. 1 and3, the chocker box serves as a means to deflect material into thereceiving compartment 30 or conversely as a baille to limit the forwarddisplacement of earth loosened by the scraper blade. When the scraper isstopped for a loading operation, i. e.,- transference of material fromthe receiving compartment 38 to the storage compartment 3l, theupwardly-moving scraper blade acts as a lower jaw closing on thematerial at the entrance of the receiving compartment and the chockerbox is, in effect, an upper jaw that is normally stationary yet isadapted to yield to any .unusual force. Under ordinary circumstances,the chocker box remains substantially stationary as the scraper blademoves upward and deilects the loosened earth into the receivingcompartment 30, the chocker box cooperating with the scraper blade toclose off the receiving compartment at a relatively low angle oftheblade to prevent `earth from flowing over the blade from the receivingcompartment. Should a rock, however, be entrapped between the scraperblade and the chocker box in the described jawaction, the up-- wardmovement of the scraper blade will not be blocked nor will any damage bedone because the chocker box will yield by swinging outward and upwardto permit the rock to escape if the rock is too heavy to be deflectedinwardby the resistance of the chocker box.

Since it is desirable for the chocker box to extend relatively close tothe ground during digging operation, some means vshould be provided forswinging the chocker box to an elevated position when the scraper isused as a conveyance for transporting loaded earth to the dumpingground. A feature of my invention that the changes in position on thepart of the chocker box required for digging and subsequenttransportation may be accomplished automatically. For example, thechocker box may 4be operatively related to the scraper blade actuatingmechanism in the manner indicated by the drawings. The toggle arm 58,the longer of the two toggle arms, carries a. rail 82 spaced in parallelrelation thereto, the rail lying outside of the frame member I5 andbeing connected at its upperand Athe chocker box 11.

'lower ends to the toggle arm by websl83. The

rail 82 is loosely embraced by the two arms of a clevis 84 that carriesa roller 85, the roller acting against the rear edge of the rail. Acable 86 connected to the clevis passes over pulleys 81, 88, and 89 toterminate in an anchorage fitting 90 On posed to pull forwardly on theclevis 84, the roller will automatically seek whichever en d of the railis inclined forward. It will be noted that, since the upper end of therail isA relatively close to the pivot axis of the toggle arm 58 as soonas the toggle arm is swung'rearward past vertical, the roller 85 willseek the upper end of the rail and then remain substantially stationaryduring the remaining rearward movement of the toggle arm.' In otherwords, the described arrangement is such that only initial movement ofthe toggle mechanism in elevating the scraper blade acts upon thechocker box 11. The'exact point in the cycle of toggle movement at whichthe chocker box will-begin to swing upward will depend upon the amountof slack in the cable and may be varied in the judgment of the operatorin accordance with operating conditions.

Ordinarily, the upward movement of the chocker box should not be soprompt or rapid as to preclude the previously described cooperation withthe scraper blade in cutting off the escape of loose earth from thereceiving compartment.y

In the preferred form of my invention the side walls 92 of the chockerbox converge inwardly Since the cable 86 is dis-- toward the leading endof the scraper bowl in spaced relation to side cutters 93 that extendforward from each side of the scraper bowl end. These side cuttersareshown with replaceable cuttingfblades 94 disposed to divert materialinto the entrance of the scoop'assembly d0 and to cut clearance for theframe along `embankment slopes'.

The storage compartment 3i may be constructed in any manner or providedwith any means known in the art to permit discharge of materialtherefrom. `One ofthe features of my invention, however, is a uniqueconstruction for the storage compartment that has outstanding advantagesin the dumping and spreading of material. The xed walls 'of the scraperbowl i d form a bottom hole 96 in the storage compartment 3l thatextends from one side'of the scraper bowl tothe other and from .thebarrier 29 to the bottom edge of the rear wall i9 of the bowl. Adoublewall door panel 9i normally spanning this bottom opening, as bestshown in Fig. 3, is part of a dumping cradle, generally designated 99,@the dumping cradle irluding two triangular side plates 99 that lie y,closely adjacent to the corresponding side walls H of the scraper bowl.For strength, the edges ofthe side plates99 may be bent to formlinclined marginal anges 900. The cradle 98 is 'rotatively carried by apair of pivot pins l| that extends through the material of thecorresponding side walls Il of the scraper bowl' andthrough adjacentportions of the frame member l5. Preferably, the curvature of the rearwall i3 of the scraper bowl has 4the same axis as the two pivot pins I0iso that thevrear edge of the floor panel 91 will follow the bowl wall I3to loosen earth therefrom when thecradle is rocked rearward to releaseearth from the storagecompartment 3l. It will be further noted, as bestshown in Fig. l, that the marginal flanges |00 of the triangular sideplate 99 of the cradle are disposed to scrape away any material adheringto the bowl Walls Il, such scraping action being part of the cradleoperation.

While any suitable means may be provided for actuating and controllingthe cradle 98; I prefer to use a second pair of hydraulic jacks |03mounted on the opposite outer side of the scraper bowl I0. Each ofthe'hydraulic jacks 03 is pivlotally mounted on a bracket plate |04 andis connected to a pair of hydraulic lines |05. Forwardlyextending pistonrods |06- of the hydraulic jacks 'are pivotally connected tocorresponding pins l01 that extend outwardly from each of the cradleside plates 99 through'suitable arcuate slots |08 in the side walls H ofthe scraper bowl. Both the hydraulic jacks |03.for

viously-mentioned hydraulic jacks 6I for operat ing the scraper blade 4lare energized by power means to which the scraper is coupled and aresubject to remote control by suitable valves' (not shown) within reachofthe tractor operator, a plurality of hydraulic conduits H0interconnect-v ing the tractor and scraper for such purpose.

The operation of my invention. may be readily understood from theforegoing description. 'In the normal digging disposition ofthe variousmovable parts, best shown in Fig. 3, the blade Il is at its lowermostposition' to dig 4into the soil. The

chocker box "I1 is relatively close tothe ground level Iand is disposedto facilitate crowdingof the loosenedsearth into the receiving compartyment 30. When. ,a substantial quantity of -earth accumulates `in. thereceiving compartment, as

shown diagrammaucauy in rig. s, 'the driver win cause a loadingoperation to be carried out.v The driver may stop the forwardmovement ofthe' as indicated at l@ in Fig. il and shown. diagram,- matically inFig. V"Z, being such as to cause substantially all the earth carriedthereby to drop into the storage compartment 9i. y

After a few loading operations, the storage compartment 9i accumulates acapacity load and the final loading operation will consist merely inlirtingthe scraper blade di sufliciently to close the` lower end of thereceiving compartment 30 effec= tively without causing any substantialdisplacement of the earth upward in the receiving compartment. Althoughthisnal closing movement of the scraper blade 4i is not extensive, theoperative connection with the chocker box i7 is ,suchl that the closingmovement of the blade causes the chocker box to swing upward and thescraper is then ready to transport a capacity load to a dumping area,the disposition of the various movable parts being as indicateddiagrammatically in Fig, 8.

To release the material from the storage oompartmfent 8i at the dumpingground, the operator manipulates the proper valve control to causemovement of the cradle to the rear causes the operating the dumpingcradleA 98 and ,the' prel the hydraulic jacks |03 to retract the pistonrods Mid, thereby causing the cradle 98 to swing rearward asdiagrammatically shown in Fig. 9.- It is to be particularly noted that'this rearward rocking of the cradle provides an exceptionally extensiveopening immediately under the center v of mass of the earth piled in thestorage compartment 3l, so that the weight of the material has maximumeect on expeditlng the discharge from the -scraper bowl. It is to befurther noted that the depth to which the discharged material is spreadon the dumping ground is determined byl the extent to which the cradleis rocked. .It is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 3 that initialleading edge ofthe floor panel 91 to approach the ground level, butthat, in the latter p'art of the cradle movement, the leading edge ofthe cradle Vincreases its distance from the ground level. Ad-F justmentof the depth to which the material isv spread may be controlled, then,either within the earlier range of cradle movement in which the leadingedge ofthe fioor panel approaches thel groundlevel or in the later rangein which the.

leading edge retreats from the ground levL Preferably, the cradle ismoved to operatein thelatter range to provide an opening of 4maximumeffective size for gravitation oil the material-to the ground, suchalarge opening being especially advantageous for sticky soil that willnot spread thin easily. Thus, forspreadingthedischarged earth in arelatively thin'layer, the floor panel- 91 may be swung to Vanintermediate'position Il i,` shown in ydashed line in Fig. 3, and.ior'spreading` `a layer of maximum ,thickness may be swung upwardcompletely into the bowl to the dashed yline position IIZ. When thestorageoompartmentll is empty or nearly empty, the operator energzes thehydraulic jacks Et to swing the scraper blade lil vupward for thepurpose of transferring to the Astorage compartment 3i that portion ofthe load that was transported to the dumping ground in the receivingcompartment Zio. At the end of the dumping operation, the operatorcauses the various parts to return to the traveling positions shown inFig-8, and the scraper is returned to the excavation area to repeat theground-moving cycle.

My disclosure in specic detail of the preierred bottom opening; and ascraper blade adapted to dig earth and to divert the loosened earthupward through said opening, said blade being mounted on pivot meansspaced rearward from said opening and being adapted to swing upward andrearward through .said opening' into the interior of said bowl todisplace accumulated earth rearward from said opening, one of said wallsconforming -to the arcuate path of the outer swinging edge of saidblade, and another of said walls conforming to the inner swinging edgeof said blade to prevent the escape of any substantial quantities ofearth past said edges as the blade is swung upward past said opening.

2. In an earth-moving machine of the char acter described, thecombination of t Va bowl having a bottom opening to receive earth; ascraper blade pivotaily movable from' a digging disposi-z tion belowsaid bowl into a position closing said opening; and a baiiie meansyieldingly mounted forward of said opening to cooperate with theswinging leading edge of said scraper blade in closing said opening.

3. A' combination as set forth in claim 2 in which said baille means isof a configuration to extend forward as well as downward from saidopening to divert loosened earth into the open- 4. In an earth-movingmachine of the character described, the combination of: a bowl inav-aAing when said blade is in digging disposition.

ing a bottom opening to receive earth; a scraper clearing position whensaid blade is lifted to close said opening for transportation of a loadin the bowl.

5j In an earth-moving machine of the character described, thecombination of; a bowl having a forward bottom opening; a scraper bladeadapted to take a lower position belowsaid openn ing to dig earth, or anintermediate position to close said opening, o'r to moveto an uppermostposition to displace accumulated earth from above said opening; meansmovabiy mounted on said bowl adjacent the front edge of said opening tocooperate with said blade in directing earth amasar into said opening;power-actuated means to lift the blade from said lower position eitherto said intermediate position or to said uppermost posi tion.; andautomatic means to elevate said mow ably mounted means for ample groundciearance when said blade is elevated to said intermediate position toclose said opening for load transportation.

6. In an earth-moving machine of the charm acter described, thecombination of: a scraper bowl having a forward bottom opening and arearward bottom opening; a transverse barrier across said bowl betweensaidvopenings dividing the bowl into a receiving compartment and astorage compartment; a scraper blade adapted to take a' lower positionbelow said forward opening to dig earth, or an intermediate position toclose said forward opening for transportation, or to move to anuppermost position to force the content of said receiving compartmentover said barrier into said storage compartment; means normally coveringsaid rearward opening and movable therefrom to permit dumping therethrough; and power means to move said scraper blade and covering means.

7. An earth-moving machine of the character described having incombination: a storage compartment; a vertically extensive transversewall spaced forward from said storage compartment; side walls extendingforward from said storage compartment to said forward transverse wall;an upwardly extending rearwardly curving wall between said side wallsand spaced rearward of said first-mentioned wall, said curving wallleading to said storage compartment;' a bottom wall extending forwardfrom said curving transverse wall, said` two transverse Walls, said sidewalls, and said bottom wall forming a. receiving compartment forward ofsaid storage compartment, said bottom wall being adaptedfor digging anddiverting earth into said receiving compartment; and power-actuatedmeans to lift said bottom wall to carry material up the forward face ofsaid curving transverse wall into storage compartment.

8. An earth-moving machine of the character described having incombination: a storage cornpartment; a rst transverse wall spaced'forward from said storage compartment, said'transversev wail beingcurved with an axis of curvature rearward therefrom; side wallsextending forward from said storage compartnientl to said transversewall; a second transverse wall spaced rearward of said rst transversewall and forward of said axis, said second transverse wall being curvedconcentric to said axis; a bottom wall ein7 tending forward from saidsecond transverse.

wall, said rst and second transverse walls, said side walls, and saidbottom wall forming a receiving compartment, said bottom wall beingmovable upward between said transverse walls and between said side wallsin a path concentric to said axis to transfer material from said re=ceiving compartment to said storage compartment; scraper means at theforward edge of said bottom wall; and power-actuated means to move saidbottom wall upward periodically.

9. An earth-moving machine of the character described having incombination: a ,receiving compartment having front, rear, and sidewalls;

a separate storage compartment having front,v

rear, and` side walls; a movable scraper blade normally at the bottom ofsaid receiving ,comn partment in a position to direct earth from belowinto said receiving compartment; and power said upward into saidreceiving compartment toA transfer earth from the receiving compartmentto said storage compartment.

10. An earth-moving machine of the character described having incombination: a receiving compartment closed at the sides and open at thetop; an adjacent storage compartment open at the top; a barrierseparating said compartlments; a relatively movable lower wall normallyin a fixed position forming `the bottom of said receiving compartmentadapted to move upward to displace earth in the receiving compartmentover said barrier into said storage compartment; and power means toactuate said movable wall periodically Awhen earth accumulates in saidreceiving compartment to substantially ll the receiving compartment 11.An earth-moving machine of the character l described having incombination: a receiving compartment having a rear wall, side walls, andan upwardly and rearwardly curving -front wall; a storage compartment tothe rear of said receiving compartment; a scraper blade positioned toserve as a bottom wall of said receiving compartment, said scraper bladebeing mounted to swing upward in a rearwardly curved path along theinner face of said front curved wall of the receiving compartment tomove material from the receiving compartment into said storagecompartment; and power means to actuate said scraper blade.

12. An earth-moving machine of the character described having incombination: a scraper bowl having a bottom opening; a scraper bladeadapted to dig earth and crowd the loosened earth upward through saidopening; means pivotally supporting said blade from a point spaced fromsaidv Y opening and adapted to carry said bladeiin an arcuate pathupward through said opening into the bowl to displace earth accumulatedabove the opening; and wall means separating the path of movement ofsaid blade-supporting means from the interior of said bowl to preventearth in the bowl' from interfering with the pivotal movement of saidblade-supporting means.

scraper blade pivotally movable from a digging position upward throughsaid opening into the bowl to displace earth accumulated above theopening; a toggle-linkage operatively connected to said scraper bladefor raising and lowering the blade, said toggle-linkage being above thediggingposition of the scraper blade and adapted to take a position ofvmaximum leverage when said blade is in digging position whereby thetoggle-linkage preventschattering of the blade during digging operation;and power means to actuate said toggle-linkage and thereby said blade. Y15. An earth-moving machine as set I:forth in claim 14 in which lsaidtoggle mechanism includes an arm pivoted to swing about a fixed axisnear its upper end, and includes a link pivoted to the lower end of saidarm, said link being connected Ito said blade, and in which said powermeans exerts its actuating force rearward to raise the blade. v

16. An earth-moving machine of the character described having in'combination: a storage compartment; a vertically extensive transversewall spaced forward from said storage compartment; side walls extendingforward from said storage compartment to said transverse wall; an'upwardly and rearwardly extending transverse wall between said sidewalls and spaced rearward from said rst-mentioned transverse wall, saidupwardly and rearwardly extending transverse wall leading to saidVstorage compartment, said two side walls and said two transverse wallsforming a receiving o compartment 4forward of said storagel compartment;a blade element disposed to loosen earth from the ground towards theforward) end of said receiving compartment; wall means rearward of saidblade element normally 13. An earth-moving machine of the character 'vdescribed having in combination: a scraper bowl having a bottom opening:a blade normally in a digging position below said bowl to crowd' earth fupward through said opening; movable means y supporting said blade andadapted to carry the blade bodily upward throughsaid opening todisvplace accumulated earth from above said opening; and walls adjacentthe edges of said blade conforming to the path of said upward movementdisposed to serve as a bottom for saidreceiving compartment and todirect earth loosened by said blade element into the receivingcompartment, said wall means being movable upwardly; and powermeansoperatively connected to said wall means to lift the wall means andthereby force earth up said upwardly and rearwardly ex-4 tendingtransverse wall into said storage comhpartment. Y i 17. In anearth-moving machine, the combina Ation of; a bowl having a bottomopening; a

to prevent any substantial quantity of earthnto' escape downward pastthe upward moving blade afterthe blade through said'opening, one

of said walls serving as a barrier to divide the' bowl into a receivingcompartment and a storage compartment. 14. In an earth-moving machinathecombina- `tion of: a bowl having a bottom opening; 'a

scraper blade pivotally movable from a digging position upward throughsaid opening into the bowl -to displace earth accumulated above theopening; a toggle-linkage operatively connected to said scraper bladefor raising and lowering the blade, said toggle-linkage being above thedigging position of the' scraper blade and adapted to take a position ofmaximum leverage against lsaid blade. whenthe blade is in diggingposition;

and a hydraulic ram adapted to actuate saidtoggle-linkage'for raisingandlowering the blade and adapted to exert continuous pressure on thetoggle-linkage at the lower position of the blade to prevent chatteringofthe blade during digging operation.v`

- l LEO BERNER.

